Collapsible concealing ladder



I y 1931 R. B. MARSCHKE 1,305,329

GOLLAPSIBLE CON-(DEALING LADDER Filed Feb. 21, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l y1931- R. B. MARSCHKE 1,805,829

COLLAPSIBLE CONCEALING LADDER Filed Feb. 21. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1Y 100 0 l 0 o J a -1 i| zlwuanto'a Wold/5416M Patented May 19, 1931 UNITEDstars-s REINHOLD. B. MARSCHKE, or

sr PAUL, MINNESOTA I coLLAPsIBLE GONGEALING LADD R Application filedFebruary 21, 1929. Serial No. 341,661.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in collapsible'anddisappearing ladders, the primary object of which is to provide a ladderwith hanger means so that the ladder may be hung concealed; in theceiling of a roomor hallway, and maybe readily le down to extend to thefloor below.

My invention includes hanger means to 2.1- low the easy andefficifent'operation of .the ladder, casing provided for it when not inuse, and to allow it to swing easily down into operative position whenthere is a slight pull upon the depending member arranged for thatpurose.. c P A feature of my invention resides in the simplicity ofconstructionand the low cost at which my collapsible ladder may bemanufactured. 1 v I It is an added feature of my lnvention to provide aladder that may be collapsed into a compact form ofcomparatively smalldimen-. sions compared to the length of the ladder.

This is accomplished by the collapsible form of my ladder and is verydesirable in that it takes up but little space when installed and inthat it may An object of my invention is to provide adjustable springmeans for balancing my ladder so that the same Wlll fold up andpull downeasily with a minimum amount of eifort'on' 17 is curved near the upperend of the lower the part of the operator.

These details together with other details to hold it in place concealedin the V be easily packed for shipment; I

Figure ,lis a side View of Figure 3,'when the ladder is folded up. YFigure 5 is'a'detail, of a portionof my ladder. I i My ladder A is'formecl'of two portions and 11 which form a single continuous ladderwhen in operativefposition, but which telescope together when not inuse. The upper portion 10 is connected toa casing 12 atthe point 13 bymeans of hinges 14. The casing 12 is located in the ceiling of a room orhallway. To add fto the appearance when the ladder is folded and not inuse,'I have provided a V sheathing or flooring member 15. This member 15closes the opening in the casing l2-when the ladder isin inoperativeposition and provides a neat and finished appearance. f f The upperportion 10 of my ladder isprovidedwith rungs 16 or steps and is widerthan thelower portion 11. The lower portion 11 is formed with grooves 17extendingvirtually the entire length of the sides 18. This lower portion11 is adapted to'slide within the sides 19 of the upper portion 10 of myladder, the

- lower edge 20 of the sides 18 of the lower portion 11 sliding over therungs or stepsvlfi. Small pegs 21 located near the lower end 22 of theupper portion 10 of my laddervare adapted to proj ect inwardly from thesides 19' and to slide in the grooves 17. This groove portion 11 of theladder A'to allow the sides :18 of the lower portion 11 of my ladder tobe positioned virtually in line with the sides 19 L of the upper.

portion 10 of' my ladder, thus putting the rungs 23 of the lower portionof the ladder in linewith the rungs 16 on the upper portion to formacontinuous'ladder or I stairway; Y

1 T olfac'ilitate the raising and lowering of my ladder I have providedspring hanger means B. Twoarms 2 1 and 25-pivotally connect the ladderatthe point 26 to the casing at thepoin't 27. Thesefarms 24 and 25 arepose.

pivoted at the point 28. Coil springs 29 or of the arms 24: and 25 andbalance the weight of the ladder so as to permit the ladder A to go backinto closed position without any exertion on the part of the operatorafter the ladder has beenstarted in motion.

Vhen it is desired to use my ladder, the ladder is openedby a slightpull on the depending member 32 arranged for that pur- The ladder isthen in the position shown in Figure 2, with the lower portion 11partially within the sides 19 of the upper por tion 10, and is neld inthat position by the catch 33. The 1 wer portion 11 is then released byturning the catch 33 and allowing the lower portion 11 to slide downinto posi tion, the pegs 21 sliding in the grooves 17 to guide themovement. To close the ladder into its normal position the process isreversed. The lower portion 11 is slid on to the upper portion 10 of myladder, the catch 33 is turned to keep the lower portion 11' in thisposition, and the ladder A is given aslight upward start. This allowsthe arms 24 and 25 to start folding together and the spring 29 acts uponthese arms to continue the folding process and to bring the ladder intoclosed position.

To allow for the proper adjustment of the spring 29 and to cause thearms 24; and 25 to act easily, the point 31 is situated at the proper.

point on the casing 12 to give correct tension to the spring 29. Thismay be ad usted 1n each particular case and may be moved from time totime should it prove necessary.

Thus I have provided a ladder which may be collapsed into compact formso that it will take up very little room. It is a valuable addition to asmall house or bungalow where there is not much space for stairs, wherea simple and inexpensive means of reaching an upper floor or attic isdesired. It is also a feature that while my ladder is very small bestembodiment thereof in the drawings, and

while these illustrations show a particular form and construction, Idesire to have it understood that these are only illustrative of a meansof carrying out my invention and that the same can be applied to otheruses than those above set forth within thescope of the following claims:

I claim: 7

1. A collapsible concealing ladder includ ing, a ceiling closure member,a ladder section rigidly supported on the inner surface of said closuremember, a slidable ladder section having longitudinal grooves in thesides thereof, supporting pins operable in said grooves and carried bysaid first ladder section to allow said slidable section to slide insaid first ladder section, side folding brackets for said first sectionand closure member, and coil spring members extending along said bracketmembers adapted to urge the folding of said bracket members and balancethe weight of said sections and closure member when said sections arefolded on the inner surface of said closure member.

2. A. collapsible concealing ladder for buildings including, a closure,a frame for supporting saidclosure in a manner to permit one side tohinge from said frame to permit-said closure to be opened by pullingdown on the same, a ladder section rigidly carried on the inner surfaceof said closure member, foldable brackets extending from said supportingframe to the sides of said ladder section, spring means for urging thefolding of said brackets and balancing said ladder, and an extensionladder section slidably supported by said first section in a man ner toextend therefrom when said ladder and closure are opened, said closureacting as a supportingsurface for said extension ladder section when inopened position.

3. A collapsible concealing ladder adapted to extend from the ceiling ofa building comprising a frame, a closure hinged to said frame, a laddersection fixed to the inside of said closure, folding bracket means forsaid fixed ladder section and closure, a slidable ladder section, andmeans for supporting said slidable section in a manner to extend inlongitudinal alinement with the side rails of said fixed ladder sectionwhen extending from the free end of said closure and to lie parallel toand on top of v the rungs of said fixed section when folded to permitfolding of the ladder within said casing in a compact state in theceiling of a building.

4. A ladder and closure for buildings including, a supporting frame,said closure being adapted to close the opening in said frame in theceiling of the building and being hinged to said frame, ladder sections,one of which is rigidly supported by said closure on the inner surfacethereof, folding brackets extending from the sides of said frame to thesides of said fixed ladder section, resilient means for urging thefolding operation of said brackets, and means on said fixed section forsupporting slidably the other section of the ladder to extend from thefirst section to form an extension in line with the side rails thereofwhen extended and said closure is opened and cam means to cause frame insaid frame opening when said 010- I sure is closed.

5.A collapsible concealing ladder for buildings including, a frame and aclosure hinged thereto, ladder portions. one of which is fixedto saidclosure and the other slidable on said fixed portion, means forsupporting said slidable portion upon said fix edportion I i slidably;and folding bracket means for supporting said closure and ladderportions in.

a manner to permit the same to be collapsed v and folded into said framewhen said closure f is closed and to extend therefrom when said, 1closure is open', and camfmeansfor placing 7 said slidable portion abovesaid fixed-portion. V

' REINI-IOLD B. MA'RSGHKE.

